Business meets politics in Bellary

Business Standard writes

The opening of iron ore exports to the private sector in 1999 and the subsequent rise in global iron ore prices have spawned illegal mining and created huge wealth in Bellary district of Karnataka and turned it into a battleground for political parties.

Friedman once said he used to advice socialist countries to privatise, but later, he stressed more on building institutions that make free markets possible. Many equate being pro-business with pro-market. But, businessmen, especially the incumbents, have little incentives to support free markets. They would ideally want monopolies, and if a big restrictive government helps them achieve that they would support just that. Consumers gain from free markets and consumers have to demand that.